Characters - (including traits, skills, dispositions, personal histories, etc.) - Gloria, Lewis, Kromer, Fearing, Lane
Gloria - 20 year old female. Persuasive, fast talker. Traveling companion of Lewis. Thinks on her feet. Fiercely protective of Lewis. Not above sleeping with men to advance her goals. Possible skills- Streetwise, Persuasion, Brawl, Survival
Lewis - Narrator. 16 years old and illiterate. Takes action if it benefits his own needs. Very loyal to Gloria. Has a crush on Lane that is set aside once she yields to Kromer's sexual advances, which may indicate a romantic streak. Shows a naive nature toward the choices he makes.
Kromer- Gold tooth, tall, tough, street smart, male
Fearing- Appealing to Gloria, street smart, male
Lane-20 year old female, has lived in the town her whole life, Pretty. Innocent due to sheltered life.
Locations - Outsider-hostile town. Online "scapes" mimic video game settings like flight simulators and role playing fantasy games.
World Details - Characters claim they had walked through deserts. It is a society where people must be in groups to find food. Food supplies are available, but only limited to people with power. This seems to be the motive for most actions.
Class system and roles: Towns are closed to outsiders, and drifters are treated with distrust by townies and each other. Despite sleeping with Fearing, Gloria is unable to procure a spot for her and Lewis outside the contest, showing the pair's powerlessness in comparison with people in power.
Climate: Hot, arid
Economic system: Food is more valuable than anything in some areas, but the economy still seems to be coin-based. There are several trades throughout the story involving sex. Some fail, some are without the consent of a single party, but sexual services are an acceptable method of trade in this world.
Educational system: Varying levels of education. For example, Gloria can read and seems to be somewhat educated, while Lewis, at 16, could not piece together the contest's name on a sign.
Factions: townies, traveling showmen/hucksters, homeless drifters, religious/cult groups
Gender roles: In general, men seem to hold most positions of authority/power. Despite patriarchal overtones, women seem to be able to pursue lives and careers besides the traditional roles of wife/mother/homemaker. Occupational differences in the sexes are not discussed in-depth, but survival is procured by Gloria and Lane by sleeping with men in various states of power. While these pairings aren't always pleasing to both parties, they are sometimes useful. The trade is sometimes not completed, as the party in power reneged on the deal or ignored the service several times throughout the story.
Nudity is still taboo, except in some instances.
General culture (food, music, past times, art): Food was as good as money. Food is prepared in ways similar to pre-apocalypse (food like donuts, fried chicken, and beer are available), people are entertained by Hunger Gamesesque endurance contests where their interaction with virtual NPC's are televised.
Healthcare: Little to none. The only doctor who appeared wasn't actually a doctor.
History: Unknown cause of apocalypse. Very brief mention of plague, volcanoes and violent tribes killing people. Likely part of the virtual reality world.
Language: English
Law and justice: militia-style law enforcement
Political system: There does not seem to be a central political system. The towns govern themselves and let people in and out as they see fit.
Population size:
Professions:Scapers,
Races and race relations: Not discussed.
Religions: One religious sect was mentioned-it was where Gloria and Lewis were before. There are no details except there was food there, and that's why the two characters joined.
Setting (city, country, space, mix): Mix of cities and surrounding lands. Cities guarded by militias and entrance must be earned. The areas outside of towns seem to be very poor in resources and thinly populated.
Sexual roles: Used as leverage or for personal gain. Virtual sex is the most popular program.
Technology: Virtual reality technology made major advances prior to the apocalypse and is still in use.
Transportation: Pre-apocalypse internal combustion vehicles are still in use.
Characters - (including traits, skills, dispositions, personal histories, etc.) - Gloria, Lewis, Kromer, Fearing, Lane
Gloria - 20 year old female. Persuasive, fast talker. Traveling companion of Lewis. Thinks on her feet. Fiercely protective of Lewis. Not above sleeping with men to advance her goals. Possible skills- Streetwise, Persuasion, Brawl, Survival
Lewis - Narrator. 16 years old and illiterate. Takes action if it benefits his own needs. Very loyal to Gloria. Has a crush on Lane that is set aside once she yields to Kromer's sexual advances, which may indicate a romantic streak. Shows a naive nature toward the choices he makes.
Kromer- Gold tooth, tall, tough, street smart, male
Fearing- Appealing to Gloria, street smart, male
Lane-20 year old female, has lived in the town her whole life, Pretty. Innocent due to sheltered life.
Locations - Outsider-hostile town. Online "scapes" mimic video game settings like flight simulators and role playing fantasy games.
World Details - Characters claim they had walked through deserts. It is a society where people must be in groups to find food. Food supplies are available, but only limited to people with power. This seems to be the motive for most actions.
Class system and roles: Towns are closed to outsiders, and drifters are treated with distrust by townies and each other. Despite sleeping with Fearing, Gloria is unable to procure a spot for her and Lewis outside the contest, showing the pair's powerlessness in comparison with people in power.
Climate: Hot, arid
Economic system: Food is more valuable than anything in some areas, but the economy still seems to be coin-based. There are several trades throughout the story involving sex. Some fail, some are without the consent of a single party, but sexual services are an acceptable method of trade in this world.
Educational system: Varying levels of education. For example, Gloria can read and seems to be somewhat educated, while Lewis, at 16, could not piece together the contest's name on a sign.
Factions: townies, traveling showmen/hucksters, homeless drifters, religious/cult groups
Gender roles: In general, men seem to hold most positions of authority/power. Despite patriarchal overtones, women seem to be able to pursue lives and careers besides the traditional roles of wife/mother/homemaker. Occupational differences in the sexes are not discussed in-depth, but survival is procured by Gloria and Lane by sleeping with men in various states of power. While these pairings aren't always pleasing to both parties, they are sometimes useful. The trade is sometimes not completed, as the party in power reneged on the deal or ignored the service several times throughout the story.
Nudity is still taboo, except in some instances.
General culture (food, music, past times, art): Food was as good as money. Food is prepared in ways similar to pre-apocalypse (food like donuts, fried chicken, and beer are available), people are entertained by Hunger Gamesesque endurance contests where their interaction with virtual NPC's are televised.
Healthcare: Little to none. The only doctor who appeared wasn't actually a doctor.
History: Unknown cause of apocalypse. Very brief mention of plague, volcanoes and violent tribes killing people. Likely part of the virtual reality world.
Language: English
Law and justice: militia-style law enforcement
Political system: There does not seem to be a central political system. The towns govern themselves and let people in and out as they see fit.
Population size:
Professions: Scapers,
Races and race relations: Not discussed.
Religions: One religious sect was mentioned-it was where Gloria and Lewis were before. There are no details except there was food there, and that's why the two characters joined.
Setting (city, country, space, mix): Mix of cities and surrounding lands. Cities guarded by militias and entrance must be earned. The areas outside of towns seem to be very poor in resources and thinly populated.
Sexual roles: Used as leverage or for personal gain. Virtual sex is the most popular program.
Technology: Virtual reality technology made major advances prior to the apocalypse and is still in use.
Transportation: Pre-apocalypse internal combustion vehicles are still in use.
Weapons: sticks, lead pipes